Andrelton Simmons hit a game-winning home run while nearly falling over home plate | MLB.com

Well, that’s different.

Matt Harvey says he’s ready to return to Mets after latest rehab start | Newsday

Magical thinking.

Harvey has been on the Mets’ disabled list since June 16 with a stress injury to the scapula bone in his right shoulder that had sapped the 28-year-old’s velocity. Harvey’s fastball typically sat in the 90-to-92 miles-per-hour range throughout Saturday’s start and his velocity reached 93 on the stadium radar gun on a few occasions.

“It’s going to come and go,” Harvey said of the velocity. “Once you get the adrenaline going in a big-league game . . . then the ...

Joe Maddon unsure whether Cubs will employ six-man rotation down the stretch - Chicago Tribune

Six-man rotation with a big bullpen does not seem like a good combo.

As the Cubs were coasting to a National League Central title exactly one year ago, manager Joe Maddon predicted many teams would employ a six-man rotation in the second half to give their starting pitchers extra rest.

This year’s Cubs might not go with six starters due to injuries and the schedule.

Sunday Notes: Blue Jays Prospect Danny Jansen is Opening Eyes | FanGraphs Baseball

David Laurila’s latest.

“Being a nice guy doesn’t necessarily help you get that base hit,” responded Lovullo. “Being a nice guy doesn’t necessarily help you make that big pitch. What it helps do is develop trust. If you have a tough moment, your team is going to back you. They’ll make you understand that you didn’t fail alone — you failed together. And when you get that big hit, you’re not going to celebrate alone, you’re going to celebrate together. It makes you feel ...

Four players suspended in Yanks-Tigers fracas | MLB.com

Sometimes it seems like they spin a wheel.

Miguel Cabrera was suspended for seven games and fined an undisclosed amount for inciting a benches-clearing incident and fighting with Yankees catcher Austin Romine, who was suspended for two games for fighting and throwing punches. Gary Sanchez received a four-game suspension for fighting and throwing punches in the ensuing fracas.

“I’m not going to feel good about that,” Sanchez said before Friday’s Yankees game against the Mariners in New York. ...

Here I am, rock you like OMNICHATTER, for the weekend of August 25-26, 2017

OMNICHATTER has got plans for all these sausages, for August 25, 2017

Justin Verlander and Victor Martinez nearly fought each other after fighting the Yankees | FTW

During the first brawl, Yankees’ catcher Gary Sanchez jumped into the fight, fist first, and appears to swing at Tigers’ third baseman Nicholas Castellanos. Upon returning to the dugout, Castellanos and Verlander looked furious with Martinez for being too chummy with the Yankees as things (temporarily) cooled down.

As Verlander walks away, he clearly flips off Martinez, who then needs to be restrained by Castellanos.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 8-25-2017

Chicago Eagle, August 25, 1917:

Fielder Jones, manager of the St. Louis Americans, believes he is the only major league center fielder that ever received an error for muffing a foul ball. Years ago Jones was playing the middle garden for Brooklyn…A left field hitter of the McInnis type came to bat and the outfielder shifted so sharply that he was really playing left field. The batter sent up a long fly…Kelley and Jones raced after the ball, and the latter got his hands on it, but the sphere fell ...

Mets’ Michael Conforto suffers shoulder injury | MLB.com

He does it on a swing.

Heyman | Astros Have Results But Recent Firings Raise Questions

Another Heyman piece.

Just so we are clear…who is saying they are very good at their jobs? If it’s other teams, they shouldn’t have a problem catching with another team which holds them in high regard.

Of course, their talents might not fit what the Astros want from their scouts. If that’s the case, don’t the Astros get to determine who they have working for their team?

The Astros laid off at least eight scouts this week – according to Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle, they included ...

Inside Baseball—Top 60 Upcoming Free Agents

Heyman is busy.
AL Notes and NL Notes.

The push to honor a baseball pioneer from New Hampshire

Doc Adams’s real legacy, however, came in 1857, when he was elected president of the Base Ball Convention held to codify rules for the new game, and was the main author on the first “Law of Base Ball.”

His hand-written notes, found after being lost for decades and sold for millions at auction in 2016, were the first time it was written down that teams had nine men, that games were nine innings (a decision made despite a loud contingent who wanted it limited to seven) and that bases were ...

OMNICHATTER always rings twice, for August 24, 2017

A Hall Of Fame Case For Johan Santana

I think the high-level data does show that Sandy Koufax was a little better statistically in his era during his peak than Santana was. Looking at their full careers, the argument could certainly be made that Santana had the better career.

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 8-24-2017

Washington Herald, August 24, 1917:

Low attendance records for the New York State League were smashed [in Scranton] Tuesday when only $12 was taken in at the game between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. The $12 included the gate and grandstand admissions. Scranton now is trying to transfer all home games to the grounds of the other five teams.

I’m pretty sure that’s not a sustainable business. I’d have figured at least a handful of Wilkes-Barre fans would have made the 20 mile trek to Scranton for ...

Mets halt Syndergaard’s rehab, fear he’s moving too ‘fast’ | New York Post

Since Syndergaard hit the disabled list, he has been joined by Harvey (stress injury to the right scapula bone), Matz (irritated ulnar nerve), Wheeler (biceps tendinitis, then a stress reaction in his right arm), Seth Lugo (right shoulder impingement) and Robert Gsellman (hamstring strain).

By any name, Adell displays first-round talent | MiLB.com News

“It was a grind in Arizona. Just keeping the energy up for all the games after the work you need to put in is different and takes some getting used to,” the 6-foot-2, 195-pounder said. “The big thing for me is keying in on every pitch during every game. As a hitter, you’re not always going to get a pitch you can drive. The pitchers here are just too good. Even if they throw you a strike, it might not be your pitch. That’s a lot different than in high school where you may not get what you’re ...

A nearly perfect game by Rich Hill is spoiled by a Dodgers television blackout - LA Times

It was obviously not the Dodgers fault my TV suddenly didn’t work. Maybe it was all those utility trucks outside. But it’s clearly the Dodgers who control their brand, and that brand is being slowly damaged even as this team grows ever stronger. Even if the blackout is not strictly the fault of Dodgers ownership, it’s their name on the TV contract, their name on their shirts and their responsibility to figure this out.

The Dodgers might be the greatest team of all-time | SI.com

But in a short series…

Turner is not the prankster; that’s super utilityman Enrique Hernández, who recently set up a hidden camera to film himself jumping out of a laundry hamper at unsuspecting teammates. Turner’s not the adult in the room; that’s silver-haired second baseman Chase Utley, who strength coach Brandon McDaniel jokes has “never made a mistake in his life.” Turner doesn’t host team dinners (that’s Adrián González) or have T-shirts made (Yasiel Puig). But the ...

Red Sox Acquire Rajai Davis From Athletics | BaseballAmerica.com

Jackie Bradley Jr.’s injury to his left hand spurred the Red Sox into action Wednesday as they acquired speedy veteran outfielder Rajai Davis from Oakland for 18-year-old outfielder Rafael Rincones. Boston will be Davis’ seventh professional organization, including two stints in Oakland.

MLB.com | Oh my Josh! Unprecedented HR flips no-no to W

Tough end for the no-hit bid.

For eight innings, Dodgers left-hander Rich Hill was perfect. For nine innings, he was unhittable. But the Pirates’ first hit was the only one they’d need.

Josh Harrison ripped a walk-off homer to the left field corner in the 10th inning, breaking up Hill’s no-hit bid and giving the Pirates a wild 1-0 win over the Dodgers on Wednesday night at PNC Park. Harrison is the first player in Major League history to break up a no-hitter with an extra-inning, walk-off ...

Ken Rosenthal: Why I’m joining The Athletic

Robothal exits the all-video FoxSports.com to return to his robo roots.

Over the years the business has changed. I had to change with it. But one thing remained constant, even as I benefited from more good fortune than I deserved by working on TV for Fox Sports and MLB Network. Writing and reporting are still the foundation of everything I do. I believe in the craft, believe in it to my bones. And now, as the business continues to evolve, I’m moving on to the next phase. ...

My work at Fox ...

Just a good ol’ OMNICHATTER, never meanin’ no harm, for August 23, 2017

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 8-23-2017

New York Tribune, August 23, 1917:

It was a big day for Flatbush, but only a paltry 1,500 “bushers” were on hand to appreciate the fact.
...
The champions last year of the National League and Pittsburgh, the cellar champions of this year, occupied the stage when the battle for a decision opened. Thirteen innings had been played the day before to a tie, and it took twenty-two more frames to break the deadlock.

The conflict opened at 1:30 and ended at 5:45, with the home boys victorious in the ...

Cardinals rethink roster protection for offseason | St. Louis Cardinals | stltoday.com

“I think what you have to realize is there is always going to be a team or two that can take the approach to a complete rebuild, or take a chance,” Mozeliak said. “When you go back five, six, seven years ago that wasn’t happening where people are taking four or five Rule 5 players. Now people are being more aggressive in how they think about talent collection.”

Players’ View: Will Hitters Adjust to the High-Spin High Heater? | FanGraphs Baseball

Some nice comments in this article.

Derek Shelton, Toronto Blue Jays quality control coach: “No. 1, it’s a pitch well sequenced. No. 2, there are organizations that identify it. It started in Tampa. They identified guys who can spin the ball and throw the ball up in the zone.

“I think the way hitters are trending now, with the ball being in the air, there’s usually a little more loft in the swing. For hitters to adjust to that pitch, they’re going to have to shorten up and probably ...

25 Best Baseball Nicknames in History | MLB.com

No. 1: Babe Ruth (George Ruth)
What if he had gone by George Ruth? It’s hard to even imagine. He was called Babe as a young player when he was all naiveté—he was like a babe in the woods. Over the years, he was called many other things—“Bambino,” “The Sultan of Swat,” “The Big Bam” and “Jidge”—but at heart, he was always Babe, and 100 years after he began, everyone still knows him that way.

How Promotions and Demotions Affect Relief Performance – The Hardball Times

I am struck by the fact that all groups outperform their projections on average. I suspect this fact has more to do with the projections themselves and doesn’t mean there’s a hidden pattern here we’re not seeing. If anyone has suggestions for other projection mechanisms that would be suitable, let me know in the comments.

The conclusion here seems straightforward. I can find only the most tenuous connection between a role change for a reliever and his subsequent performance on the field. ...

The unusually healthy Twins - Twinkie Town

All told, the Twins have been a fairly healthy group of players this year and that has been helpful towards keeping this team in playoff contention as the season enters its final month. With September callups looming, the influx of minor leaguers will help stifle the loss of any additional injuries, but we all hope that it won’t be a worry as the Twins fight for the Wild Card.